Strongyloides stercoralis: identification of antigens in natural human infections from endemic areas of the United States

Using Western-blot analysis, we identified eight immunodominant antigens (apparent molecular weights 96, 86, 75, 56, 41, 32, 28, and 26 kDa) of Strongyloides stercoralis in natural human infections. For this study, 78 individual serum samples were obtained from S. stercoralis-infected patients residing in endemic areas of the United States. Poly A+ RNA was translated in vitro in the rabbit-reticulocyte lysate system. The newly synthesized translation products were immuno-precipitated with S. stercoralis human infection sera. All eight of the identified antigens were detected in the immunoprecipitates. The potential of these antigens as targets for immunodiagnosis is also discussed.     

Time-domain measurement of negative group delay in negative-refractive-index transmission-line metamaterials

We have simulated and constructed a one-dimensional metamaterial composed of a periodically loaded transmission line that exhibits both negative and positive group velocities in a band of effective negative index of refraction. The negative group velocity or, equivalently, the negative group delay, is demonstrated theoretically and experimentally in the time domain using modulated Gaussian pulses. Due to this negative delay, we can show an output pulse peak emerging from the loaded transmission line prior to the input peak entering the line, i.e., the output pulse precedes the input pulse. The fact that this surprising behavior does not violate the requirements of relativistic causality is illustrated with time-domain simulations, which show that discontinuities in the pulse waveforms are traveling at exactly the speed of light in vacuum. The pulse-reshaping mechanism underlying this behavior is also illustrated using time-domain simulations.     

Isolierung der durch ?thylenoxyd-1,214C derivatisierten Inhaltsstoffe aus Kakao und ihre massenspektrometrisch ermittelte Struktur

Zusammenfassung Bei der Auftrennung zahlreicher Fraktionen durch Extraktion und PDC aus dem Äthylenoxyd-1,2-¹⁴C begasten Kakaopulver (Entkeimung) konnten aus dem Wasserextrakt 2 Verbindungen isoliert werden, deren Struktur aufgrund der Massenspektren und IR-Spektren alsN,N-Bis-(Di-Äthoxy-O-hydroxyäthyl)-isoleucyl-alanyl-cystein (MG = 569) undN-(Äthoxy-O-hydroxyäthyl)-Tyrosin gefunden wurde. Die Konzentrationen liegen ungefü:hr bei 20 bzw. 50 mg/kg Kakaopulver.

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Isolation of the derivatives from coca-powder fumigated by ethylene oxide 1,2-¹⁴C and their Structure Suggested on the Basis of I. R. and Mass-Spectrometry

Summary In Coca-powder fumigated with Ethylene Oxide-1,2¹⁴C, several derivatives were isolated by extraction and preparative Thin Layer Chromatography. Of the two compounds isolated from the water-extract, the structures have been suggested asN,N-Bis-(Di-Ethoxy-O-Hydroxy-ethyl)-Isoleucyl-Alanyl-Cysteine (MW = 569) andN-(Ethoxy-O-Hydroxyethyl)-Tyrosine (MW = 269), based on I. R. and Mass Spectrometry. Their approximate concentrations were found to be 20 and 50 mg/kg respectively.

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Wir danken der Deutschen Forschungsgemeinschaft für ihre finanzielle Unterstützung dieser Arbeit.

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Untersuchungen über das Verhalten von Äthylenoxyd bei der Begasung von Lebensmitteln, IX. Mitteilung.

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Zum Teil aus der Dissertation von I. R. Siddiqui, Universität Bonn.     

Group separation of ethylene oxide 1,2-14c fumigated coca-powder derivatives and their distribution of radioactivity (author's transl)]

A procedure based on extraction, column chromatography and precipitation is described for the separation of ethylene oxide-1,2-14C fumigated coca-powder derivatives in 9 different groups. As it was found in wheat [1], the major portion of radioactivity lies in water extract; in coca-powder the major portion of radioactivity is also found in low molecular components.     

Involvement of the 5-HT1A subtype receptor in the neonatal organization of agonistic behaviour in the rat

5-hydroxytryptamine (5-HT) interacts with testosterone (T) in the development of a number of neuronal systems controlling sexually dimorphic adult behaviours. In this report, we investigated this interaction on the organization of agonistic behaviour in males, females, androgenized females (250 micrograms/pup of T proprionate on the day of birth), and males castrated on the day of birth. We have shown previously that manipulating 5-HT2 activity over the 2nd week of life modulates adult agonistic behaviour, depending on genetic sex and the presence of T. In this report, we investigated the effects seen in adulthood of a 5-HT1A agonist [8-OH-DPAT, 0.25 mg/kg, intraperitoneally (i.p.)] and antagonist (WAY100135, 0.25 mg/kg, i.p.) given over days 8-16 postpartum. The test for agonistic behaviour was carried out in a neutral territory against a matched conspecific, and introductory, offensive and defensive activities were note. Results show that neonatal administration of the 5-HT1A antagonist WAY100135 increases introductory activity and defense in the presence of neonatal T, independent of genetic sex, because these effects were seen in sham-castrated males and androgenized females. Offence followed a similar pattern, in that it was increased by WAY100135, but only in males. In the case of defence, the effects of the antagonist were reinforced by the action of the agonist (8-OH-DPAT) in both males and females, indicating an inhibitory role of 5-HT1A perinatal activity on defence in the presence of malelike levels of circulating T and a facilitatory role when levels of T are low or negligible. These findings indicate that 5-HT1A activity is involved in the development of agonistic behaviour and the effects are influenced by T. The results also show that the offensive and defensive facets of agonistic activity are controlled differently.     

Cardenolides from the methanolic extract of Nerium oleander leaves possessing central nervous system depressant activity in mice

OBJECTIVE: To identify characteristics associated with provision of bystander CPR in witnessed out-of-hospital cardiac arrest cases. METHODS: An observational, prospective, cohort study was performed using cardiac arrest cases as identified by emergency medical services (EMS) agencies in Oakland County. MI, from July 1, 1989, to December 31, 1993. All patients who sustained a witnessed arrest prior to arrival of EMS personnel were reviewed. RESULTS: Of the 927 patients meeting entry criteria, the 229 patients receiving bystander CPR were younger: 60.9 +/- 14.7 vs 67.9 +/- 14.7 years (p < 0.01). Most (76.6%) cardiac arrests occurred in the home. In a multivariate logistic model, only the location of arrest outside the home was a significant predictor of receiving bystander CPR [odds ratio (OR) 3.8; 99% CI 2.5, 5.9]. Arrests outside the home were associated with significantly improved outcome, with 18.2% of out-of-home and 8.2% of in-home victims discharged from the hospital alive (OR 2.5; 99% CI 1.4, 4.4). CONCLUSION: Patients who have had witnessed cardiac arrests outside the home are nearly 4 times more likely to receive bystander CPR, and are twice as likely to survive. This observation emphasizes the need for CPR training of family members in the authors' locale. This phenomenon may also represent a significant confounder in studies of out-of-hospital cardiac arrest and resuscitation.     

Potent bicyclic lactam inhibitors of thrombin: Part I: P3 modifications

Peptidomimetic inhibitors of general structure 1 have been prepared. Optimization of the binding affinities of these compounds through variation of the P3 hydrophobic residue is described. Selected substituted bicylic lactams displayed interesting pharmacological profiles both in vitro and in vivo.